Nutrient patterns comprising specific nutrients may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, study suggests

“The initial results indicate that Participants who consumed higher amounts of plant protein, fibre, vitamin C and potassium had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared with those who consumed lower quantities of these nutrients.” the researchers reported.

Type 2 diabetes is a significant concern for public health globally. It leads to high illness and death rates and places a significant financial burden on healthcare systems. In the past few decades, there has been a sharp rise in diabetes occurrence and is expected to continue increasing, with an estimated 693 million people living with the disease by 2045. Complications associated with T2D can also contribute to premature death.

The current literature has highlighted the significance of diet in managing or preventing diabetes complications, but evidence is insufficient regarding the correlation between nutrient patterns and these complications. To fill this knowledge gap, Mohammad Amin Kashani, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, and colleagues aimed to investigate this relationship by analyzing the dietary intake of nutrients in participants with and without type 2 diabetes.

For this purpose, they conducted a case-control study at the Tabriz Center of Metabolism and Endocrinology. Two hundred and twenty-five newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes and 225 controls were enrolled in the study. The mean age and BMI of the participants were 39.8 years and 27.8 kg/m2, respectively.

A validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess the dietary intake of nutrients. Nutrient patterns were obtained using Principal component analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate T2D risk.

Key findings of the study include:

• Three major nutrient patterns were identified. The first nutrient pattern was characterized by high consumption of animal protein, sucrose, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B12, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and potassium. The second nutrient pattern included fibre, vitamin D, plant protein, Riboflavin, copper, Vitamin B5, and Magnesium. The third nutrient pattern was characterized by fibre, vitamin A, plant protein, riboflavin, calcium, vitamin C, and potassium.
• Individuals in the highest tertile of nutrient pattern 3 (NP3) had a lower risk of T2D versus those in the lowest tertile after adjusting for confounders. The odds ratio was 0.52.

“The results indicate that conforming to a nutrient pattern consisting of plant protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and calcium is linked to a lower likelihood of developing T2D,” the researchers wrote. “Our investigation did not reveal any significant correlation between other nutrient patterns and T2D risk.”

“However, there is a need for additional research to authenticate these initial findings and establish the correlation between nutrient patterns and T2D,” they concluded.

Reference:

haramshahi, M., A-Elgadir, T.M.E., Daabo, H.M.A. et al. Nutrient patterns and risk of diabetes mellitus type 2: a case-control study. BMC Endocr Disord 24, 10 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-024-01540-5